African Sports Monthly Vol I. Issue II February 2018 | Page 27

The Golden
Generation of
Zimbabwe Cricket
Despite his team's difficulties,
wicket-keeper/batsman Andy
Flower was at one point in time
rated the best batsman in the
Cricket world.
During Flowers’ era, Zimbabwe also
produced cricketers such as
Flower's own brother Grant, and all-
rounders; Andy Blignaut and Heath
Streak (who was later appointed
national captain).
Murray Goodwin was also a world-
Zimbabwe at the
Test Cricket arena
Test Cricket is the pinnacle of
achievement in the World of elite
Cricket. It’s the oldest and most
decorated format of competition
reserved for the best nations in the
game.
class batsman; following his
retirement from international
cricket, he continued on playing
and scoring heavily for Sussex.
Another world-class batsman was
David Houghton, who holds the
record for the highest individual
Test score for Zimbabwe of 266
against Sri Lanka in 1994/95.
Zimbabwe was granted Test status
by the ICC in July 1992 and played
its first Test match in October of
that same year, against India at the
Harare Sports Club, and with that
standing they became the ninth
Test nation in the world.
Zimbabwe's early Test
performances were consistently
weak, leading to suggestions that
they had been granted Test status
prematurely. Out of their first 30
Test matches, they only won one at
home against Pakistan in early 1995.
FEBRUARY 2018
VOL I , ISSUE II